Joseph A. Zembruski, 40, passed away peacefully Monday, June 29, 2015, after a courageous battle with cancer at St. Mary’s Hospital with his wife and best friend, Jennifer (Corsi) by his side. Joe was born in Waterbury Jan. 23, 1975, a son of John Zembruski Sr. and Barbara (Vensel) Zembruski of Middlebury.
He graduated from Holy Cross High School in 1993 and went on to attend Salve Regina University. In five years, Joe completed an undergraduate program with a degree in business and music and his master’s degree. He attended Briarwood College to complete his associate’s degree in mortuary science before beginning his career as a funeral director at Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald–Zembruski Funeral Home for the last 16 years.
Many people knew Joe for his love of Disney, clean cars and music. How fitting that his license plate, 1JAZ, was not only his initials, but also spelled out his passion. Joe first began picking out simple melodies on the piano at age 3. With music as an outlet he enjoyed immensely, Joe shared his talent at many churches in the greater Waterbury area and has been the part-time organist as St. Vincent Ferrer Church for the last 14 years.
On Oct. 2, 1999, Joe received the Congressional Certificate of Recognition and was named Polish Mayor for the Day of Waterbury. At that time, Joe shared “Although, I am not very old, I have come to recognize that it is very important that each one of us uses our God-given talents in a way that we can better ourselves and our community.” Joe served on the St. Hedwig Board of Directors, the Naugatuck Senior Center Commission and the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce.
Joe was a loving, caring husband, father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, son-in-law, brother-in-law and friend to all. Besides his wife, Jennifer, and his children, little buddy Nathaniel (12) and his little girl, Grace (8), he leaves his parents, John and Barbara Zembruski of Middlebury; a sister, Carol Everett and her husband, Jack, of Woodbury; two brothers, John Zembruski Jr. and his wife, Pat, of Southbury and Steven Zembruski and his wife, Lisa, of Middlebury. He also leaves his in-laws, Nick and Noreen Corsi of Middlebury; a brother-in-law Nick Corsi and his wife, Natia, of Cape Cod, Mass.; two loved nieces, Morgan and Anna; two loved nephews, Steven and Benjamin; and several aunts and cousins.
Calling hours will be Thursday, July 2, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald-Zembruski Funeral Home. Family and friends planning to attend the Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, July 3, at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent Ferrer Church at 1006 New Haven Road in Naugatuck are asked to meet at the church at 9:40 a.m. Burial will follow immediately at Calvary Cemetery in Waterbury.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Office of Radio and Television or WJMJ, 15 Peach Orchard Road, Prospect, CT 06712. To send an online condolence, please visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com.
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